LITTLE FERRY, NJ.., November 1, 1995 -- The non-profit SETI League, Inc. has joined forces with Down East Microwave Inc. of Frenchtown NJ in the development of microwave radioastronomy receivers for use in its radio Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. The company will produce and market amplifiers, filters, downconverters and other receive equipment designed by SETI League engineers, with profits to be donated to The SETI League's research fund.

Down East Microwave, a privately held corporation, was founded in Maine in the 1970's as a supplier of microwave components and equipment for the radio amateur experimenter. New owner and president Steve Kostro moved the company to New Jersey in 1994. Kostro, a longtime microwave experimenter licensed as radio amateur N2CEI, was formerly employed for ten years at AT&T Bell Labs as an engineering consultant responsible for production line assembly and test of radio frequency products. "Radio amateurs are in a unique position," states Kostro, "to succeed where Government agencies have thus far failed. SETI is no longer science fiction, but mainstream science, and Down East Microwave is pleased to have a role in this important research."

SETI scientists seek to determine through microwave and optical measurements whether humankind is alone in the universe. Since Congress terminated NASA's SETI funding in 1993, The SETI League and other scientific groups have been attempting to privatize the research. Experimenters interested in participating in the search for intelligent alien life, or citizens wishing to help support it, should email to join_at_setileague_dot_org, check the SETI League Web
site at http://www.setileague.org/, send a fax to +1 (201) 641-1771, or contact The SETI League, Inc. membership hotline at +1 (800) TAU-SETI. Be sure to provide us with a postal address to which we will mail further information. The SETI League, Inc. is a membership-supported, non-profit [501(c)(3)], educational and scientific corporation dedicated to the electromagnetic Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.